Job 40
AOSNJob 40:1-2
The ancient Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) does not include the end of God's first speech.
Job 40:3-5
Job's short and humble reply does not admit guilt, but it does admit how "insignificant" he is (40:4). Earlier, he believed he could approach God like a prince or even question him (31:37; 13:22–23).
Job 40:4
I am insignificant (compare 42:6): Job was not asking God to forgive his sin. Like Abraham, he recognized that he was not worthy (Genesis 18:27).
Job had asked those comforting him to cover their mouths to show shock (21:5). Here, he does so himself in reaction to his own inappropriate words.
Job 40:5
I have nothing to add: He had no more accusations against God and would not argue again.
Job 40:6-7
The LORD repeated his earlier challenge (refer to 38:1–3).
Job 40:8
Job's words had angered Elihu (10:7; 27:2; 31:35–37; 32:2; 34:5). Now, God himself challenged Job's words.
Job 40:11-12
Job could not humble proud people without God's authority (Isaiah 2:11–12, 17; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5–6; Malachi 4:3; Romans 16:20).
Job 40:15-24
After listing natural animals, God described Behemoth and "Leviathan" as creatures humans cannot control (39:1–30; 40:15–24; 41:1–34). Job could not control the wild donkey or ox (39:5–12; 40:15–24). However, God created and could control them, and Job had to accept this fact (41:2).
Here, Behemoth appears to be a natural creature:
It is an animal God made, just as he made Job (40:15).
It is not a fierce predator but eats grass like an ox (40:15).
It is in a poem about God’s creation of the natural world, not in a myth about the world's formation. Most commentators think Behemoth is the hippopotamus, a large, grass-eating animal (40:15–19). It rests in the river among lotus plants and reeds (40:21). Like the wild ox, Behemoth is strong (40:16–18, 24; 39:11). Yet it is mostly peaceful (40:20–23).
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